Emotions involved with caring for the elderly can seem almost as overwhelming as the finances. As your loved ones age, what topics must you be ready to discuss? Beyond money, you need to talk about independence and basic preferences for the way individuals want to live or die.

Those born in 1950 will turn age 65 next year. Confusion often reigns as these so-called “seasoned boomers” navigate various enrollment periods for Medicare and a plethora of choices. Let’s chart this maze.

Failure to understand Social Security can be costly. Here’s how to get the most out of your benefits. While the subject is complex and laden with acronyms, you need to understand it.

How much financial security can a person or couple derive from Social Security income? For many it is the bulk of retirement income. Per the Social Security Administration, 52% of married couples and 74% of unmarried persons receive half or more of their income from Social Security.

Your retirement income hinges on a seeming paradox: People increase dependence on Social Security even as the long-term solvency of the government golden years’ program reportedly dwindles. What tricks of timing and finances can give your benefits checks the biggest boost?

Calculating Social Security retirement benefits can be tricky. If you worked in a government job and did not pay Social Security taxes, part of your civil service pension gets deducted from your Social Security benefits, an offset called the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). What you may not know is that the WEP’s effect goes beyond that – this provision also brings down your spouse’s and other dependents’ benefits.

A confluence of circumstances can conspire against marriage amongst older couples: longevity, soaring elder-care costs and a lack of long-term care (LTC) insurance. Divorce, even if painful, may hurt less than living in near poverty until Medicaid finally kicks in to cover an ill spouse.

Medicare insurance only covers up to 100 days of nursing care. If you or your spouse need nursing or LTC, you either pay out of pocket until your assets fall below a low threshold or tap your LTC insurance.